Strong get-out-the vote operation boosts candidates

Democrats dominated Issaquah in the November election.

City voters chose Democrats for every federal and statewide office on the ballot — sometimes by a broad margin and others by a handful of votes.

Issaquah overwhelmingly supported Democrats in the races for president and vice president, U.S. senator and U.S. representative, and every statewide office. Only incumbent Republican Steve Litzow, a 41st Legislative District state senator representing about half of Issaquah, earned support from a majority of voters inside city limits.

Drew is poised to face Thurston County Auditor Kim Wyman in the race for secretary of state. Anderson fell short in the race for lieutenant governor against Republican Bill Finkbeiner, a former state senator, and incumbent Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, a Democrat.

Drew, a former Issaquah resident and onetime state senator for the 5th Legislative District, secured state Democrats’ endorsement for secretary of state and outpolled other Democrats — Puyallup state Sen. Jim Kastama and former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels — in the Aug. 7 primary election.

Incumbent Secretary of State Sam Reed, a Republican, is retiring at the end of his term.

Anderson, a longtime legislator and a Fall City Republican, plans to step down from the state House of Representatives once his term ends at the end of the year.

King County voters endorsed a $200 million property tax measure to build a juvenile justice facility, as King County Elections released initial results Tuesday night.

Officials asked voters to fund a replacement for the aging Youth Services Center, a juvenile detention facility in Seattle.

The measure appeared on a crowded primary ballot alongside federal, judicial, legislative and statewide contests. Voters in Issaquah and throughout Washington returned ballots in recent days, as the calendar inched closer to the summer primary — and the Tuesday deadline to postmark or return ballots.

The electorate chose the top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, in the all-mail primary election. The top vote recipients then advance to an all-mail general election Nov. 6.

Lt. Gov. Brad Owen invited civic-minded youths to apply for position on the council responsible for advising state legislators on youth issues.

The 22-member Legislative Youth Advisory Council is comprised of teenagers between 14 and 18. Members serve two-year terms and, if eligible, can be reappointed for additional terms.

“This is a very action-oriented and diverse group of bright young people,” Owen said in a statement. “Each year they tackle a broad range of issues that are important to youth, take positions on legislative bills and work closely with legislators on seeing these bills through the legislative process. I would strongly encourage any interested youth to apply.”

The lieutenant governor makes the final appointments to the panel based on the recommendations of Legislative Youth Advisory Council membership.

Find the application form on the Legislative Youth Advisory Council website, http://lyac.leg.wa.gov.Email lyac@leg.wa.gov or call 360-725-6039 for more information. Interested teenagers must apply by June 25.

Voters can hear from candidates vying for the No. 2 job in state government at a June 21 event.

The debate among candidates for lieutenant governor is sponsored by the Issaquah/Sammamish Tea Party and the Woodinville/Redmond Tea Party Patriots. GOP candidates Glenn Anderson, a state representative for the Issaquah area, and former state Sen. Bill Finkbeiner plan to attend.

The race also includes incumbent Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, a Democrat.

The debate is at 6:30 p.m. in the Eagle Room at Issaquah City Hall, 130 E. Sunset Way. The event is open to the public.

The emcee for the event is Sammamish City Councilman John Curley.

The lieutenant governor carries few significant responsibilities. The official duties include standing in for the governor if he or she is incapacitated, presiding over the state Senate, and serving on a handful of committees and commissions, such as the State Finance Committee.

Lt. Gov. Brad Owen invited civic-minded youths to apply for position on the council responsible for advising state legislators on youth issues.

The 22-member Legislative Youth Advisory Council is comprised of teenagers between 14 and 18. Members serve two-year terms and, if eligible, can be reappointed for additional terms.

“This is a very action-oriented and diverse group of bright young people,” Owen said in a statement. “Each year they tackle a broad range of issues that are important to youth, take positions on legislative bills and work closely with legislators on seeing these bills through the legislative process. I would strongly encourage any interested youth to apply.”

The lieutenant governor makes the final appointments to the panel based on the recommendations of Legislative Youth Advisory Council membership.

Interested teenagers must apply by June 25. Find the application form is available on the Legislative Youth Advisory Council website, http://lyac.leg.wa.gov. Email lyac@leg.wa.gov or call 360-725-6039 for more information.

State Sen. Cheryl Pflug, other legislators and Lt. Gov. Brad Owen met in Yakima early last month to start planning for a new “Agricultural Fair of the Americas” to promote Washington agriculture.

Issaquah-area legislator Pflug serves on the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations, a group led by Owen. The committee met Sept. 2. Watch the meeting at TVW, the statewide public affairs network.

The proposal calls for the Central Washington Fairgrounds in Yakima to be used as a showcase for Evergreen State agriculture and efforts to food supplies for the hungry.

“Agriculture is a vital sector of Washington state’s economy and we are anxious to hear first hand about some of the incredible, world-class advancements going on right within our borders that hold promise for the entire nation and world,” Owen said in a statement.